Hi everyone

Hope u are all having a great day!!! I just was curious, for those of you who have reached your goal or have made it half way or closer.. how has the weight loss effected or changed you? Do you find yourself more confident and less shy? Have you tried things that you woudlnt have tried being at your heaviest? Career changes? Dating? Your style change? I have a friend who lost a lot of weight but even when everyone told her how amazing she looked and what a diff she said she still felt fat and thought she looked fat!! That was crazy!! To me I think I would feel more confident and try new things my weight has always been my excuse of holding me back its like i feel qusimoto ish (hunchback guy) lol and i think if i lose this weight I will turn into a princess well not exactly but a cute awkward gnome or dwarf even though im not short lol.

Thanks any feed back would be great would love to hear your thoughts...

Take care

Miss

I'm down 46 pounds, with another 24 or so to go. My clothes are a smaller size, and I feel healthier, but that's about it.

I was normal weight through college, and gained a bunch a year or two out, so my teenage formative years were as a normal weight kid, not as a heavy kid, which might make a difference.

The first time i lost weight (yes, i'm doing all the hard work a second time, some people never learn lol) the best confidence booster was walking into any clothing store knowing i could try on anything i liked. Not having to worry if they have my size or if i can fit was awesome. The chicks who would work the stores were far more willing to help me out and give me their opinion on clothes compared to now where i'm carrying extra weight. When you're fit and in shape people instantly have respect for you and in turn that makes you feel good.

Thanks guys...

Ya.. im just hoping WHEN I lose this weight that I will be more outgoing and want to do more things Im pretty sure I will.. im just in a funk.. and knowing that it will make a big difference is great motivation!!!

"when" might never happen... you need to find your confidence NOW.. not at some point down the road.. I've lost almost 200lbs and still feel like the fat chick - I look in the mirror and still see ugly...

Whatever your current weight is shouldn't be holding you back from being you NOW... because you might never get to that perfect weight - you need to find you and be satisfied with who you are now... and just improve upon that.

I agree with Mal. It is definitely easier said than done to live in the now though. It's tough. I can completely see a difference in my body and how my clothes are too big now. I was fat/chubby all thru junior high and highschool, and that took a toll on me. I need to learn how to let it go and move on but, it's hard. I've never really dated (not just due to my weight and body but I was in the closet until I was 23) so that is a big step I need to make and move forward with.

I feel like I need to live in the NOW. I always put things off, such as dating. I always said, when I weigh a certain amount, or have a flat stomach, etc. For some reason I always feel like I'm not good enough just as I am. I'm scared to death of rejection, probably like many people, and feel like i need to be perfect before I can start doing the things I want to. It's weird. I thought losing weight would solve ALL of my problems and I could finally be completely happy. Don't get me wrong it's definitely made me feel better and healthier but, I still have a lot of the issues going on inside my head at 210lbs that I did at almost 250lbs... I need to learn how to let go and just be happy with me, and not worry about anyone else. I am working on it but it is a slow process..... I do feel though that losing the weight I have so far, and losing more has put me in a much better place than I was

-Sam

I found myself slightly more confident almost right away...not that I was looking so much sexier already, but because I knew I was doing something that would improve my life in many ways. It had a big impact on my emotional state.

Thanks everyone for your replies .. I know I do need to live in the now and I am.. just know it could be better if I kick my own ass and do something about it! .. not just talking weight wise.

I think people need to focus on their mental strength and their physical appearance.

Read books on self-esteem. Read books on self-confidence. A book I really liked is '48 laws of power'. It really is a great read. It teaches you how to recognize people who exploit, how to fend it off, and to gain stature and prominence yourself.

You need not use it to manipulate or to be selfish, but it is a great tool in what can be a rather cruel world.

Michael

My friend is reading this book right now called "Happiness Now" and she is going to let me read it when she is finished... I want to. She said it has opened her eyes to the way she views being happy with life, etc. I will let you know what I think when I'm finished with it.

-Sam

Thanks .. I should definately look into getting some self esteem and self help books .. a girl at my work recommended "the secret" as well, Im not one for reading I was always the one with the coles notes.. (err cliff notes for my neighbours to the south) .. or waited until they made it into a movie lol, possibly reading a bit before bed might be a good thing as I dont sleep very well usually up till at least 3/4 am just in pondering mode.

There are a bunch of podcasts available on the web, generally free, that you can listen to - or books on tape -

Most of them tend to preach the same thing -- you have to believe in yourself... which is true enough - some of them are really hokey but it's really your personal preference and what works for you... Google around abit you might find soething that speaks to you..

I've read countless books over the years on improving self esteem and how to believe in yourself - probably as many books on weight loss as well- and honestly it's not the book that does it - it's the readiness in your heead that says it's OK for you to think you're OK... How you get there - I don't know..

Thanks Mal!! that would be much better for me .. I will search around. I for sure have been my own worst enemy in the past.. I came across an old diary I had and i was calling myself every name in the book failure..loser..fugly, reading that now I realize wow no wonder I was in a depressed state because those thoughts were constantly going thru my head, over the years I find myself more gooder then badder now lol.. i mean i still have these issues but I dont dwell on them and dont let them hold me back from everything just somethings now, and im hoping with the support im getting here and reading/listening and taking better care of myself I will learn to love my self a lil lotta bit instead of just a lil teeny bit!